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2007
Accomplishments
Summary

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R&D 100 Awards recognize products as the most innovative ideas of the year. Winners in 2007 were:

High-Speed Electro-Mechanical Shutter for Imaging Spectrographs

Dr. Quang-Viet Nguyen of GRC’s Combustion Branch developed a high-speed electro-mechanical shutter for imaging spectrographs using electronically synchronized slotted wheels to gate pulses of light at durations as short as 10 millionths of a second. These computer simulations are critical tools used to design and build cleaner burning and more fuel-efficient aircraft engines.

Defect Clustering Thermal and Environmental Barrier Coatings for Si-Based Ceramic Turbine Engine Components

Drs. Dongming Zhu, Robert Miller, and Narottam Bansal of GRC’s Structures and Materials Division, developed multilayered, multifunctional coating systems that incorporate several revolutionary technologies that greatly extend the material temperature capability, environmental stability, and high heat-flux durability of lightweight Si-based engine components in combustion environments.

Antenna Near-Field Probe Station Scanner

Dr. Afroz Zaman, Dr. Richard Lee, Dr. Felix Miranda, and Phillip Barr (Purdue University) of the Antenna, Microwave and Optical Systems Branch; Dr. Kevin Lambert, Analex Corporation; and William Darby, R&D Labs Technical Branch developed this scanner that measures radiation patterns of miniature antennas fabricated on any dielectric substrate as well as semiconductor wafers. It can also test antennas embedded in circuits with active devices.